JMO indicted in Thajudeen alleged murder

The former Colombo Chief Judicial Medical Officer Professor
Ananda Samarasekara was today 27 Aug indicted by the Attorney General before
the Colombo High Court in the Waseem Thajudeen alleged murder case.

Prof Samarasekara is charged with willfully misplacing body
parts of the victim with a view towards protecting the perpetrator of the crime.

Thajudeen died in what was apparently a road accident in
Colombo in May 2012.

Initially, it was believed that Thajudeen had lost control
of his car and crashed into a wall near the Shalika hall and the vehicle had
exploded.

However, later foul play was suspected and a criminal
investigation launched.

The former JMO is charged under section 198 of the Penal
Code, according to the indictment.

The charges state that Prof Samarasekara had assigned two
junior Judicial Medical Officers to conduct the autopsy and had the body
brought back to the JMO’s offices after the funeral rites were performed.

The AG has said that certain skeletal remains had been
removed on the instructions of the accused and later these parts went missing.

After indictments were filed Prof Samarasekara was enlarged
on bail by the High Court Judge Manjula Tillekeratne.

Defence Attorneys indicated to the court that they would be filing preliminary objections shortly.